Dispatch
BROWNS 31 CHIEFS 28, OT
Untested backup QB engineers comeback
Monday, December 04, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
ED SUBA JR . AKRON BEACON JOURNAL Browns quarterback Derek Anderson scrambles past the Chiefs? Kawika Mitchell for a 33-yard gain in overtime.
MARK DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Phil Dawson (4), aided by the hold of Dave Zastudil, converted the eighth winning field goal of his career.
CLEVELAND ? The Browns added a thrilling home victory to their 2006 resume yesterday, but they might have lost their starting quarterback in the process.
Second-year quarterback Charlie Frye suffered a significant right wrist injury during an otherwise landmark day as the Browns pulled out a 31-28 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Backup quarterback Derek Anderson played well in Frye?s absence and threw for 171 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. With the Browns (4-8) trailing by 14 points, Anderson showed poise and led the team to three scoring drives ? two in the fourth quarter and one in overtime ? to seal the victory.
But there was jubilation in the locker room mixed with angst as the team awaited word on Frye.
Teammate Kellen Winslow Jr. said after the game that Frye?s wrist is broken, but the team would not confirm the extent of the injury.
Frye said X-rays were taken at the stadium during the game, but he did not want to divulge the result until he gets a second opinion.
His apprehension led to speculation that it could be serious. A fractured wrist likely would keep Frye out for the remainder of the season.
"I don?t know a lot about it," Frye said. "But I should find out (today) how serious it is."
Anderson, who hadn?t thrown a pass in an NFL game until yesterday, stepped in and played like a wily veteran. The 6-foot-6 quarterback from Oregon State displayed his big arm as the offense was able to gain a season-high 438 yards.
But Anderson?s most important yards came with his legs during a 33-yard scramble in overtime that put the Browns in field-goal range. He found a seam up the right sideline on a broken play and awkwardly dodged a few tackles along the way, which set up a 33-yard field goal by Phil Dawson on the final play.
"That?s by far the longest run I?ve had since high school," Anderson said, laughing. "Everybody is going to give me a hard time about it. I know it. I was just going until somebody knocked me down."
After entering the game with no touchdowns by the offense in the past 10 quarters, the Browns suddenly found their stride and put together their highest point total of the year.
Both quarterbacks had little trouble passing against Kansas City (7-5). Frye completed 11 of 13 attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and Anderson was 12 of 21 in the second half. The pair combined for a 111.5 passer rating.
The Chiefs broke a 14-14 tie at the half with a 6-yard touchdown reception by Kris Wilson in the third quarter. Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez (nine catches, 105 yards) followed with a 23-yard touchdown catch with 12:19 left in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a 28-14 lead.
At that point, Anderson began to click and led touchdown drives of 81 and 70 yards that ended with throws to tight end Steve Heiden.
Cleveland?s final scoring drive went for 63 yards, highlighted by Anderson?s run and capped by Dawson?s kick, which was the eighth winning field goal of his career.
"He?s a money kicker and we knew he was going to make it," Browns safety Brian Russell said.
Cleveland, which has not won two in a row since the 2003 season, will have little time to savor its win. It plays Thursday night against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Frye likely is out for that game, and with the uncertainty of his status for the immediate future, Anderson said he?s going into the week with the mentality as the starter.
"I have to," Anderson said. "Regardless of what (injury) he?s got, I got to go into it that way.
"I finished the game."
